Nishikigi

錦木 The Brocade Branch

1 Source and/or Related Material

Man’yōshū Eastern Songs, Toshiyori Zuinō

2 Author

Zeami

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

The renegade warrior poet Yoshitsune is on the run from his older brother, the first shogun Yoritomo. He has taken shelter with Fujiwara no Hidehira, lord of Hiraizumi in the wild Northeast, but Hidehira dies, and his sons Nishikido no Tarō (maewaki) and Yasuhira (maetsure) plot to win Yoritomo’s favor by killing Yoshitsune. These two try to convince their youngest brother Izumi no Saburō (shite) to betray Yoshitsune, but Saburō stays true to his father’s dying wish to protect Yoshitsune. He tells his wife (maetsure) of his brothers’ treachery and suggests she go on the run. The wife, saying that she cannot flee by herself, kills herself on the spot. Dressed for battle, Nishikido no Tarō (nochiwaki) and Yasuhira (nochitsure) arrive with their army (tachishu) and attack. Izumi no Saburō (nochishite) fights back alone until at last, loyal son that he is, he kills himself inside the family mausoleum.